JAKARTA, 29 November - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations announced Tuesday the entry into force of a protocol allowing non-Southeast Asian states to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. Accession to the 24-year old treaty means that non-Southeast Asian states can take part in certain regional processes for dispute settlement.

The treaty was originally signed by the five founding members of ASEAN in 1976 and by all subsequent members thereafter. Papua New Guinea, a special observer in ASEAN, is also a signatory to the treaty.

The treaty serves as a code of conduct of inter-state relations in the region. It is the only diplomatic instrument in the region that establishes a mechanism for the pacific settlement of disputes. Under the treaty, parties shall constitute a high council comprising a representative at ministerial level from each of the parties to take cognizance of disputes or situations likely to disturb regional peace and stability.

The high council may offer its good offices, or upon the agreement of the parties in dispute, constitute itself into a committee of mediation, inquiry or conciliation. The treaty does not preclude recourse to the modes of peaceful settlement contained in the charter of the United Nations, including bringing any legal dispute to the International Court of Justice.

The use of the high council shall apply to any of the states outside Southeast Asia which have acceded to the treaty only in cases where that state is directly involved in the disputes to be settled through regional processes.

Accession to the treaty is by consent of all the states in Southeast Asia.

ASEAN consists of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam.